The 2013 HoF Ballot...

[Ben Grimm]

Thanks to DoubleX for the initial list...

The next group of HoF candidates is friggin' huge. Even the secondary players did enough to warrant at least a check. There may be more than this, but this is the best I could find. If you had the right to pick 3, who would you pick to go?

Barry Bonds
Roger Clemens
Mike Piazza
Craig Biggio
Sammy Sosa
Curt Schilling
Kenny Lofton
David Wells
Julio Franco
Steve Finley
Reggie Sanders
Shawn Green
Jose Mesa
Roberto Hernandez
Ryan Klesko
Jeff Cirillo
Royce Clayton

[ol' aches and pains]

Piazza and Biggio. Can't come up with a third one, sorry.

[Cougar]

This is a steroid argument, which I find dispiriting. So, ignoring steroids, the guys on the first ballot who ought to be in Cooperstown someday are:

Barry Bonds
Roger Clemens
Mike Piazza
Craig Biggio
Sammy Sosa
Curt Schilling
Kenny Lofton

The ballot just isn't big enough, especially when there's a dozen or so holdovers who merit a vote too.

It's going to be a mess, and I suspect there will be rules changes before it's all over. Too much of a logjam.

[willshad]

Biggio and Piazza go in easily. The rest don't stand a chance.

[ol' aches and pains]

This is a steroid argument, which I find dispiriting. So, ignoring steroids, the guys on the first ballot who ought to be in Cooperstown someday are:

Barry Bonds
Roger Clemens
Mike Piazza
Craig Biggio
Sammy Sosa
Curt Schilling
Kenny Lofton

The ballot just isn't big enough, especially when there's a dozen or so holdovers who merit a vote too.

It's going to be a mess, and I suspect there will be rules changes before it's all over. Too much of a logjam.

I wasn't aware I was arguing, I was citing the two players I would vote for if I had a vote. Yes, it's obvious why I didn't list Bonds, Clemens and Sosa. I have my doubts about Piazza, too, but he's never failed a drug test to my knowledge. I'm not going to deny him a plaque in Cooperstown based on back acne.

[Cougar]

I wasn't aware I was arguing, I was citing the two players I would vote for if I had a vote. Yes, it's obvious why I didn't list Bonds, Clemens and Sosa. I have my doubts about Piazza, too, but he's never failed a drug test to my knowledge. I'm not going to deny him a plaque in Cooperstown based on back acne.

Sorry for the implication....maybe topic is a better word than argument. You certainly weren't arguing.

I just don't find the topic fun, and if I'm not having fun what am I doing with my free time here?

I guess Hall of Fame discussions are going to be less fun when this ballot arrives in people's mailboxes.

Eh, I can always argue for Gil Hodges and Minnie Minoso...

[leecemark]

--If Bonds and Clemens don't make the Hall then the place ceases to represent the best players of all time. I have no doubt they used steroids, but I also believe that steroid use was so prevelent in their era that steroid users will be inducted - even if unknowingly - unless an entire generation is boycotted. I'd probably pass on a borderline guy who was a confirmed user, but Bonds and Clemens clear the line twice over. Like Cougar though I find steroid discussions boring and unpleasant so this is all I'll have to say on the subject.
--Piazza is another inner circle guy, Biggio is a no brainer, Schilling and Sosa have solid cases and Lofton at least deserves discussion (although I doubt he gets much of one on such a deep ballot and he wouldn't make my 10).

[KHenry14]

Barry Bonds
Roger Clemens
Mike Piazza
Craig Biggio
Sammy Sosa
Curt Schilling
Kenny Lofton

Not so sure about Schilling and Lofton, but the rest on the face of it would be dead solid first ballot types. But I would be surprised if any get in this time around. It doesn't even matter if say Biggio hasn't been implicated with PED's, everyone's suspect. It will be fascinating to see what happens in January.

[Los Bravos]

I have a related question for you guys...

What happens if (and it's a really huge "if") Chass' idea that Piazza's upcoming autobiography contains an admission of usage turns out to be true? It's set to be published after the election but before the induction ceremony. I have no reason to believe that it will contain anything of the type but the possibility is there.

If that were to happen, what would be the result? I seriously doubt that the election would be revoked in any way but there would be a massive reaction. Would it result in a that-much-harder attitude among the writers or do you think it would act as a damn breaker and that they would all just toss up their hands?

I want to know what you think would happen, rather than should.

[ol' aches and pains]

Sorry for the implication....maybe topic is a better word than argument. You certainly weren't arguing.

I just don't find the topic fun, and if I'm not having fun what am I doing with my free time here?

I guess Hall of Fame discussions are going to be less fun when this ballot arrives in people's mailboxes.

Eh, I can always argue for Gil Hodges and Minnie Minoso...

I'll be right there with you for those two.

[ol' aches and pains]

What happens if (and it's a really huge "if") Chass' idea that Piazza's upcoming autobiography contains an admission of usage turns out to be true? It's set to be published after the election but before the induction ceremony. I have no reason to believe that it will contain anything of the type but the possibility is there.

If that were to happen, what would be the result? I seriously doubt that the election would be revoked in any way but there would be a massive reaction. Would it result in a that-much-harder attitude among the writers or do you think it would act as a damn breaker and that they would all just toss up their hands?

I want to know what you think would happen, rather than should.

I hadn't heard about that, is that the same Murray Chass who tried to smear Stan Musial as a racist in his blog not long ago? If so, I take anything he says these days with a whole shaker full of salt.

[EnterSandman]

If I'm picking three, it's Bonds, Clemens, Piazza.

Other guys I'd vote in are Biggio, Schilling, Sosa.

[fenrir]

Piazza will end up like another Jeff Bagwell case. Suspicions will keep him out in his first and possibly second year, but he will eventually get in barring any steroid revelations. Biggio will get in first ballot. Schilling will have to wait some time, but he will get in. Sosa will never get in. Clemens and Bonds may get in eventually, though Clemens will probably receive slightly more support because he's not as hated as Bonds, and technically there's less "evidence" against him than there is on Barry (though I have no doubts he used steroids and HGH).

As for who I would support, if I'm not docking for steroids:

Bonds
Clemens
Piazza

If I'm including steroid allegations:

Piazza
Biggio
Schilling

[Freakshow]

The next group of HoF candidates is friggin' huge. Even the secondary players did enough to warrant at least a check. There may be more than this, but this is the best I could find.

A recent thread relates closely to this topic:

Which New Candidates Should Be On the 2013 BBWAA Ballot?

[J W]

So what do you think are the chances the "Killer B"s, Biggio and Bagwell are inducted in the same year? That could be an interesting ceremony.